This work is quoted in the Histories of Firishta and Nizámu-d
dín Ahmad Bakhshí as one of the authorities on which their state­ments
are founded; but it does not appear for what particular period
of Indian History they are indebted to it for information. The only
knowledge I have of it is derived from the account of Sir W. Ouseley,
who describes it thus:—

“The Zainu-l Akhbár is a very curious and extraordinary work;
containing the ancient history of Persia, of the Jewish, Christian,
Magian, and Hindu religious fasts and ceremonies, Annals of the
Muhammadan kings and Khalífas, Geographical notices, anecdotes,
and chronological tables,” etc.

“A most valuable work in illustrating the history and antiquities
of Asia. Of this excellent work I have never seen another copy.”*

Size—Small folio, containing 527 pages.

II.Táríkh-i Hind.

Hájí Khálfa mentions (No. 2340) a work under this title, com­posed
by Muhammad bin Yúsuf Hirwí. He says that it contains an
account of the notable things in the country of Hind, and he adds,
“To this Title are to be referred the histories of New West India,
which a late author has translated into Turkí from the lingua franca,
with additions. In it he has given a full account of the country
known by the name of Yangí Dunyá, “the new world.” The
Táríkh-i Hind is no doubt the same work as Risálu-i 'Ajáib wa
Gharáib-i Hindustán, since the author of that treatise also bears the
name of Muhammad Yúsuf Hirwí. This Risála is twice quoted in
the Haft Iklím under “Kálpí.”

It is probably the same Táríkh-i Hind which is quoted in the
Táríkh-i Alfí, the Habíbu-s Siyar, and the Nafahátu-l Ins. As the
last two in their quotation from the Táríkh-i Hind show the author
to have been contemporary with, and to have conversed with Khwájá
Hasan Dehliví, who was a disciple of Nizámú-d dín Ahmad, he must
have flourished about the beginning of the eighth century of the
Hijra, for Nizámu-d dín died A.H. 725.

III.Táríkh-i Pádsháhán-i Hind;
Táríkh-i Pádsháhán-i Humáyún.

The first work is described in Stewart's Catalogue (p. 17) as an
abridged history of the Muhammadan kings of Hindustán till the
accession of the Emperor Akbar. It is probably the same as the
work of that name noticed by James Fraser (Catalogue of Manu­scripts
collected in the East, 1742), as well as by Von Hammer (Gesch.
d. red. Pers., p. 411).

The second is the title of a work in the Catalogue of Capt.
Jonathan Scott's Library (Ouseley, Oriental Collections, vol. i.,
p. 370).